Carrier for pneumatic tube system

Abstract

A carrier for transporting articles in a pneumatic tube system including, in one preferred embodiment, an elongated cylindrical body completely closed at one end and having an opening in the side wall thereof extending from the other end of the carrier a substantial distance along the length thereof, but substantially less than the entire carrier length, and having a width measured circumferentially approximately one-half of the carrier circumference. A semi-cylindrical cover is hinged to the carrier body along one longitudinal edge thereof to selectively close the opening in the side wall. Also included are mating semi-circular discs integral with the outer ends of the semi-cylindrical cover and cylindrical body section which cooperate to seal the end of the carrier adjacent the side wall opening when the semi-cylindrical cover is in its closed position sealing the side wall opening. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A carrier for transporting articles through a pneumatic tube comprising: a major body member including,   a. a tubular section having a completely closed outer end and a completely open inner end,   b. a first semi-tubular section having a completely open inner end integrally connected to said tubular section inner end, an outer end, and a pair of side edges,   a minor body member having a second semi-tubular section with a completely open inner end, an outer end, and a pair of side edges,   a connector pivotally interconnecting one of said side edges of said first semi-tubular section and one of said side edges of said second semi-tubular section for facilitating movement of said semi-tubular sections between a) a closed position in which both said semi-tubular sections cooperate to define an enclosed tubular region, and b) an open position in which semi-tubular sections are juxtaposed,   end closure means integrally connected to at least one of said outer ends of said semi-tubular sections to seal said outer ends of said semi-tubular sections when positioned in said closed position, at least part of said end closure means being connected for movement with said outer end of said second semi-tubular section to provide endwise access to the interior of said tubular section when said semi-tubular sections are positioned in said open position.   
     
     
       2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein one of said semi-tubular sections includes a recess formed therein proximate said other of its edges, and wherein the other of said semi-tubular sections includes a projection formed therein proximate said other of its edges, said recess and projection releasably interengaging to selectively lock said semi-tubular sections in said closed position. 
     
     
       3. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said recess includes a longitudinal groove formed in the exterior of said one of said semi-tubular sections disposed generally parallel to said other of its edges, and wherein said projection includes an outwardly projecting elongated longitudinal ridge formed in the exterior of said other of said semi-tubular sections disposed generally parallel to said other of its edges. 
     
     
       4. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said closure means includes first and second closure sections integrally connected with the outer ends of said first and second semi-tubular sections, respectively, said closure sections collectively sealing the outer end of said semi-tubular sections when in their closed position, and wherein one of said closure sections includes a recess formed therein and the other of said closure sections includes a projection formed therein, said recess and projection releasably interengaging to selectively lock said first and second closure sections when said semi-tubular sections are in their closed position. 
     
     
       5. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said connector includes a hinge, and further including bistable bias means interconnecting said first and second semi-tubular sections proximate said hinge for assisting in maintaining said semi-tubular sections alternatively in said open and closed positions. 
     
     
       6. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said closure means includes first and second closure sections integrally connected with the outer ends of said first and second semi-tubular sections, respectively, said closure sections collectively sealing the outer end of said semi-tubular sections when in their closed position, and wherein one of said closure sections includes a recess formed therein and the other of said closure sections includes a projection formed therein, said recess and projection releasably interengaging to selectively lock said first and second closure sections when said semi-tubular sections are in their closed position. 
     
     
       7. A carrier for transporting articles in a pneumatic tube comprising: an elongated one-piece injection molded plastic tubular body member having a first end and a completely closed second end, said member having an opening in the side thereof along a substantial fraction of its length and circumference, said opening having a width measured circumferentially and a length substantially less than the entire circumference and length, respectively, of said body member, said opening having one end proximate said first end of said tubular body member and an opposite end intermediate said first and second ends,   a side cover configured to close said opening when placed thereover,   a connector pivotally interconnecting said side cover and tubular body member for facilitating pivotal movement of said cover between an open position and a closed position, and   an end closure integral with at least one of said side cover and tubular members for sealing, in combination with said cover when placed in its closed position, the enclosed tubular region collectively defined by said tubular body member and closed side cover, at least part of said end closure being connected for movement with said side cover to provide endwise access to the interior of said tubular body member when said side cover is in said open position.   
     
     
       8. The carrier of claim 7 wherein said end closure includes first and second selectively mating closure elements integral with said cover and tubular member, respectively, for cooperatively closing said first end of tubular member when in mating relationship. 
     
     
       9. The carrier of claim 7 wherein said connector includes a hinge, and further including bistable bias means interconnecting said tubular body member and cover proximate said hinge for assisting in maintaining said tubular body member and cover alternatively in said open and closed positions. 
     
     
       10. The carrier of claim 7 wherein said connector pivotally interconnects said cover and body for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said carrier at a point proximate said opposite end of said opening intermediate said first and second ends of said tubular body. 
     
     
       11. The carrier of claim 7 wherein said opening and cover have longitudinally directed opposite sides which mate when said cover closes said opening, and wherein said connector pivotally interconnects said cover and body along one of their mating longitudinal sides for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said carrier. 
     
     
       12. A carrier for transporting articles through a pneumatic tube comprising: a major body member including:   a. a tubular section having a completely closed outer end and a completely open inner end,   b. a first semi-tubular section having a completely open inner end integrally connected to said tubular section inner end, an outer end, and a pair of side edges,   a minor body member having a second semi-tubular section with a completely open inner end, an outer end, and a pair of side edges,   a connector pivotally interconnecting said tubular section proximate its open inner end said minor body member proximate its inner end for facilitating movement of said semi-tubular section between a) a closed position in which both said semi-tubular sections cooperate to define an enclosed tubular region, and b) an open position in which the longitudinal axes of said semi-tubular sections are substantially angulated relative to each other,   end closure means integrally connected to at least one of said outer ends of said semi-tubular sections to seal said outer ends of said semi-tubular sections when said semi-tubular sections are positioned in said closed position, at least part of said end closure means being connected for movement with said outer end of said second semi-tubular section to provide endwise access to the interior of said tubular section when said semi-tubular sections are in said open position.   
     
     
       13. A carrier for transporting articles through a pneumatic tube comprising: a major body member including,   a. a tubular section having a completely closed outer end and a completely open inner end,   b. a first partial-tubular section having an open inner end integrally connected to said tubular section inner end, an outer end, and a pair of side edges,   a minor body member having a second partial-tubular section with an inner end, an outer end, and a pair of side edges,   a connector pivotally interconnecting said first partial-tubular section and said second partial-tubular section along mating edges thereof for facilitating movement of said partial-tubular sections are spaced apart along a substantial portion of their length to facilitate access to the interior of said major body member,   end closure means integrally connected to at least one of said outer ends of said semi-tubular sections to seal said outer ends of said semi-tubular sections when positioned in said closed position, at least part of said end closure means being connected for movement with said outer end of said first partial-tubular section to provide endwise access to the interior of said tubular section when said partial-tubular sections are in said open position.